Scraping device



July 4, 1957 H. B. ENGINEER SGRAPING DEVI CE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June30, 1965 SCRAPING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor IH 5. Engineer United States Patent "ice SCRAPING DEVICE Homi BehramEngineer, 11 Lilford Road, London SE. 5, England Filed June 39, 1965,Ser. No. 468,389 Claims priority, application Great Britain, July 6,1964,

Claims. (Cl. 30-172) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A scraping deviceadapted to be held in the hand, comprising a plurality of blade-locatingelements slidably and detachably mounted side-by-side on a backingmember. The blade-locating elements, which are resiliently urgedtogether, define therebetween a plurality of generally parallel slots,each intended to contain a blade positioned with its sharp edgeprojecting from its slot, and its rear edge in engagement with thebacking member.

The present invention relates to a device for scraping woodwork, paintor other material, which removes the surface of the material beingscraped as a fine powder, and can be used in place of the conventionalsandpaper block.

The present invention consists in a scraping device comprising a block,adapted to be held in the hand, having projecting from one face thereofa plurality of blades which extend substantially parallel to one anotherand in spaced apart relation with the sharp edges of the bladesprojecting a short distance from the said face, in which the blades aremounted in slots extending across the said face and formed by aplurality of blade locating elements detachably mounted side-by-side ona backing member of resilient or flexible material against which therear edges of the blades are supported when inserted in the slots.

The device is used by moving it back and forth with the projectingblades applied against the surface to be scraped. By lightly pressing onthe device when the blades are in engagement with the surface to bescraped, the sharp edges of the blades will align themselves in a commonplane.

By flexing the backing member, the slots can be opened to insert orremove the blades. Means may be provided for retaining the block in theunflexed position, for example an elastic band may extend around theblade locating elements.

In one embodiment of the invention, the backing member comprises a stripof resilient synthetic plastic material. The individual blade locatingelements, which are also preferably moulded from a synthetic plasticmaterial, may be provided with aligned passages extending therethrough,through which the backing member passes when the device is assembled.Preferably the passages in the two outermost elements are closed attheir outer ends to keep the backing member in position.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, referencewill now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view from below, partly cut away, of oneembodiment of the scraping device according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section on the line AA of FIG. 1, and

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of adevice for breakingdouble-edged blades into two separate blades, for use with the deviceshown in FIGURES l and 2, and FIGURE 4 is a vertical section through amodified scraping device.

3,328,878 Patented July 4, 1967 Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, thescraping device comprises a plurality of generally rectangular, hollow,blade locating elements 1, for example four elements, moulded from asynthetic plastic material. Each element 1 is formed with a transverselyextending web 2 which divides the element 1 into upper and lowersections, the lower section being sub-divided into comparatively wide,longitudinal channels by a plurality of longitudinally extending,transversely spaced, webs or ribs 3, and the upper section constitutinga passage 4 for receiving a backing member 5. The two outermost bladelocating elements are each provided with an outer wall 6 which closes atleast the upper section, and preferably both sections, whilst theopposed or facing edges of adjacent elements 1, and the webs or ribs 3,which define the sides of generally parallel vertical blade-receivingslots 1a are formed with semi-circular recesses 7.

The blade locating elements 1 are mounted side-byside on the backingmember 5 and are a close sliding fit on the member 5. The member 5comprises a strip or sheet of flexible and resilient synthetic plasticmaterial, extending through the passages 4 in the elements 1 to aposition adjacent each end wall 6 of the two outermost elements. Thebacking member 5 is provided with pairs of transversely extendingrecesses 8 in opposite surfaces thereof which extend across the junctionbetween adjacent elements 1, reducing the mass or cross-section of thebacking member and increasing its flexibility.

To retain the elements 1 assembled together on the member 5, theelements 1 are provided with a peripheral step 9 around the lowersection within which is located an elastic band 10.

As shown in the drawings, a blade 11 is located in each slot 1a. Theblades 11 are inserted into their respective slots by first flexing thedevice about the backing member 5, and in particular about the moreflexible portions thereof having the recesses 8, to open the slots, andthen placing a blade 11 in each slot with the inner or blunt edgethereof bearing against one of the recesses 8 in the backing member 5.The device is then released enabling it to restore to its unflexedposition due to the resilience of the backing member 5 and the tensionof the elastic band 10, thereby closing the slots and gripping theblades.

As will be seen from FIGURE 2, a clearance is provided between the endsof the backing member and the end walls 6 so that it is the blades notthe backing member which are compressed between the elements 1 by theelastic band 10, even when the blade engaging edges of the elements 1become worn, different thickness blades are used, or one or more bladesare omitted. Moreover, the clearance permits sliding movement of thebacking member 5 as will be described later.

It will be seen that the thickness of the blades is slightly greaterthan the depth of the slots 10 so that the shapened cutting edges of theformer project slightly beyond the fiat lower face of the device. Theblades 11 may each comprise one half of a conventional double-edgedsafety razor blade, or, for example, of a blade forming the subject ofapplicants British Registered Design No. 908,980, the double-edged bladebeing simply snapped along the slot or aperture therein which extendsparallel to the cutting edges of the blade to produce the blades 11.

When the device is in use, and the blades are in compression, theresilience of the recessed portions of the backing member 5 againstwhich the inner edges of the blades 11 bear, enables a degree ofself-alignment of the cutting edges. Since the inner edges of the blades11 locate in the recesses 8, the distance of the lower face of thedevice from the backing member 5, and therefore the upper face of thedevice, may be reduced for a particular thickness of blade, therebyenabling the mass of the device, and therefore the elements 1 to bereduced.

Since the backing member is more resilient than the material beingscraped, the blades tend to retract into the device under pressureduring use, resulting in the removal of the surface of the material as apowder rather than as scraps or chips. Material removed during scrapingis free to accumulate in the channels between the ribs 3, and thetendency of the device to become clogged by buildup of such wastematerial is thereby reduced.

Due to the fact that the backing member 5 is separate from and slidablewith respect to all of the elements 1, the elements are capable of beingurged apart against the resilience of the elastic band by the blades, sothat the blades are permitted to deflect during use, out of their planeperpendicular to the surface of the device from which they project, soas not to stick into the material being scraped. This deflection, inaddition to permitting self alignment of the blades, also reduces thetendency of the blades to blunting. During this deflecting motion, thebacking member is capable of sliding back and forth in the passages 4with the inner edges of the blades, so that little or no slidingmovement, and therefore wear occurs between the said inner edges andbacking member. The blades are also permitted to flex in theperpendicular plane due to the provision of the recesses 7, due to whichthe blades are supported along two spaced lines.

Although the slots 1a are shown at approximately 90 to the lower face ofhe device, to the side edges of the device, and are parallel to oneanother, the slots in may be disposed at an angle with respect to theside edges of the device, and also may be inclined relative to the lowerface thereof.

By moulding the blade locating elements 1 separately from the backingmember 5, instead of permanently bonding these components together, theassembly costs may be reduced, and the device may be easily dismantledfor cleaning or replacements of damaged parts.

In order to simplify snapping of the blades, a device as shown in FIGURE3 may be employed. This device may comprise two generally rectangularplates 12a, 12b moulded from a synthetic plastic material which areprovided with interengaging projections 13 and recesses 14. In use, theblade 11 is sandwiched between the two plates 12a and 12b, with theprojections 13 extending through the slot 11a in the blade to locate theblade in such a position that only the positions 11b at opposite ends ofthe slot 11a project from between the plates. These portions 11b arethen pressed in turn against a table or other immovable surface whilstthe plates are held together in the hand, to snap off projectingportions 11b and divide the blade where it projects from the blade intotwo halves.

Although the backing member 5 may be resilient, this is not essential,since alignment of the blades may be effected solely by their deflectionas previously described. In fact, the backing member may be rigid, i.e.nonflexible as well as nonresilient, widening of the slots for insertionor removal of the blades being simply effected by pulling the elementsapart on the backing member against the action of the elastic band 10,instead of by flexing the backing member.

Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous when only threeblade-locating elements and two blades are employed, as shown in FIGURE4, since no vertical alignment of the blades is required. From thisfigure, it will be seen that the device is basically similar to thatshown in FIGURES 1 and 2, with the exception that the backing member 5is non-resilient, for example comprises a spring steel strip, recessedat 8 in one surface only. In addition, the transverse web 2 of eachelement is relieved in the region of the slot, and a supplementalpassage 4' is provided between the web 2 and a second transverse webcarrying the ribs 3, to afford clearance for the thickened inner end 11of a blade engaging in the recess 8. This clearance ensures that theblade is clamped only between the ribs 3.

If it is desired to employ blades having a reduced vertical thickness,for example, the blades shown in FIGURE 2, these may be accommodatedwithout reducing the distance by which the blades project from thedevice, by turning over the member 5 so that the surface of the memberhaving the recesses 8 faces upwardl and the blades bear against theun-recessed surface of the member 5.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. For example, thehacking member of the device shown in FIGURES l and 2 may benon-resilient, and/ or non-flexible. The blade locating elements and/ orthe backing member may be made from the same or different syntheticplastics materials or may be made from materials other than plastics. Inthis respect, the backing member may be formed from a natural rubber.

The backing member, instead of being entirely separate from the bladelocating elements may be moulded integrally with, or secured to, one ofthem.

The scraping devices illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, and FIGURE 3accommodate three and two blades respectively, but it will be understoodthat by the provision of more or less locating elements and a longer orshorter backing member respectively, the device may accommodate a largeror smaller number of blades respectively.

I claim:

1. A scraping device comprising a block, adapted to be held in the hand,having projecting from one face thereof a plurality of blades whichextend substantially parallel to one another and in spaced apartrelation with the sharp edges of the blades projecting a short distancefrom the said face, in which the blades are mounted in slots extendingacross the said face and formed by a plurality of blade locatingelements detachably mounted side-by-side on a backing member againstwhich the rear edges of the blades are supported when inserted in theslots, the backing member comprising a strip-like member which extendsthrough, and is slidable within, aligned passages in the blade-locatingelements, the passages in the two outermost elements being closed attheir outer ends.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein transversely extendingrecesses are formed in at least one surface of the backing member, whichrecesses extend across the junctions between adjacent elements.

3. A device according to claim I wherein the backing member comprises astrip of resilient synthetic plastic material.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the backing member comprises astrip of non-resilient material.

5. A scraping device comprising a plurality of separate blade locatingelements, moulded from a synthetic plastic material, all slidably anddetachably mounted in side-byside relationship on a backing member, saidbacking member comprising a separate strip of resilient syntheticplastic material extending through and closely surrounded by alignedpassages in said elements, and having transverse recesses at spacedintervals therealong coinciding with the junctions between adjacentelements, means for normally resiliently urging said elements towardseach other, so that the opposed side faces of each pair of adjacentelements define a slot for receiving and retaining a blade, and aplurality of blades located one in each slot with its sharp edgeprojecting a short distance beyond one face of the device and its rearedge engaging in that recess in the backing member which is coincidentwith that slot and being supported by the backing member.

6. A device according to claim 5, in which the blade locating elementsare provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, transverselyspaced, ribs, whereby blades disposed within the slots are supported bythe edges of said ribs at spaced points along their length.

'7. A device according to claim 6, in which the side faces of the bladelocating elements which define the slots are formed with part circularrecesses which extend in a direction substantially parallel to the slotsand to the plane of the backing member.

8. A sanding device comprising a plurality of separate blade locatingelements, moulded from a synthetic plastic material, all slidably anddetachably mounted in side-byside relationship on a backing member, saidbacking member comprising a separate strip of flexible, substantiallynon-resilient material extending through and closely surrounded byaligned passages in said elements, and having transverse recesses atspaced intervals therealong coinciding with the junctions betweenadjacent elements, means for normally resiliently urging said elementstowards each other, so that the opposed side faces of each pair ofadjacent elements define a slot for receiving and retaining a blade, anda plurality of blades located one in each slot with its sharp edgeprojecting a short distance beyond one face of the device and its rearedge engaging in that recess in the backing member which is coincidentwith that slot and being supported by the backing member.

9. A device according to claim 8, in which the blade 2 locating elementsare provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, transverselyspaced ribs, whereby blades disposed within the slots are supported bythe edges of said ribs at spaced points along their length.

10. A device according to claim 9, including two-end blade locatingelements, the passage in each of which is closed at its outer end, asingle intermediate blade-locating element disposed between the two endelements, and aligned intermediate passages in said elements disposedbetween said first mentioned passages and said ribs.

FOREIGN PATENTS 151,183 10/1937 Austria. 598,503 6/1934 Germany.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. R. V. PARKER, JR., AssistantExaminer.

1. A SCRAPING DEVICE COMPRISING A BLOCK, ADAPTED TO BE HELD IN THE HAND,HAVING PROJECTING FROM ONE FACE THEREOF A PLURALITY OF BLADES WHICHEXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER AND IN SPACED APARTRELATION WITH THE SHARP EDGES OF THE BLADES PROJECTING A SHORT DISTANCEFROM THE SAID FACE, IN WHICH THE BLADES ARE MOUNTED IN SLOTS EXTENDINGACROSS THE SAID FACE AND FORMED BY A PLURALITY OF BLADE LOCATINGELEMENTS DETACHABLY MOUNTED SIDE-BY-SIDE ON A BACKING MEMBER AGAINSTWHICH THE REAR EDGES OF THE BLADES ARE SUPPORTED WHEN INSERTED IN THESLOTS, THE BACKING MEMBER COMPRISING A STRIP-LIKE MEMBER WHICH EXTENDSTHROUGH, AND IS SLIDABLE WITHIN, ALIGNED PASSAGES IN THE BLADE-LOCATINGELEMENTS, THE PASSAGES IN THE TWO OUTERMOST ELEMENTS BEING CLOSED ATTHEIR OUTER ENDS.